Potato cutter



G. H. MANUEL Sept. 5, 1950 POTATO CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1947 FIG.

-INVENTOR.

G- H. MANUEL FIG- 2 ATTORNEY G. H. MANUEL Sept. 5, 1950 POTATO CUTTER Filed Jan. 31, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG- 4 FIG 5 I INVENTOR s. H. MANUEL AT TQRNEY ion roller l6 being placed at a slightly lower level in order to produce an incline to the screen and a tumbling effect to the article being fed on the screen, which produces thereby a more complete grading of an article according to its size. This grading of course being understood to be caused by the differences in grading screen sizes begimiingrwith the'smaller grade size adjacent feed-belt 1 2 and the larger grade'size being on the opposite end of the apparatus. These grading screens are of conventional design and:

. control the feeding portion of the apparatus;

may be purchased relative to size in accordance with the operators wishes.

A conveyor belt IQ for conducting thefinished product or cut seed onto a take-off. conveyorbelt I3 is disposed below the cutting mechanism this conveyor belt I9 being supported betweenconventional roller and sprocket'ed d'rive'roller 2| by this control being provided by a switch arm 4| "'ofiset from groove 3|, and having one end 42 pivotably resting against the wall portion 39 and free running rollers 22. The sprocketed wheel of.

roller 2| and sprocketed;l-drive wheel 23, for conveyor belts l9 and |3,, are drivenby means: of drive chain 24 from motor25. It,-will bereadily recognized that the motor;25 maybe eliminated and replacedby suitable mechanical gearing and drive means from motor 26:01 vice versa,;for performing the operation-required of motor 26, as later described.-,; g

The motor 26 is a power, means for ;turning drive shaft 21 on suitable bearing supports through conventional reduction gearing 21' and drive chain 28, which likewise operatesdrive shaft 29 for controlling a component operation of the apparatus as hereinafter disclosed. As heretofore explained one motor means may be substituted for thetwo. motors 25 and 26, and it y will be a matter of mechanical expediency to use only one motor withappropriate. gearing or' drive chains to operate the conveyor belts l9 and l3-with shafts 21 and 29 atthe proper speeds by using a-gratioof gearing as hereinafterzdescribed.

The disclosure of Fig. 2 illustrates in detail one unit oi the apparatus and its component parts taken from the series of hoppers l0 shown in Fig. l. v This hopper .Ill is fed by grading screen M from feed belt |2 in its normal operation and while it will be adapted to operate as aisingle unit, if desired, the preferred arrangement is the series. In illustrating this unit and its operation With respect to cutting seed potatoes, it will bepresumed that the motors I8, 25, and 26 are inoperation conveying seed potatoes-of varying size onto and over the screens M where, due to the first screen l4 being of smaller, size, it. alows seed potatoes that pass therethrough to drop, into hopper. Ill from which, by operation of shaft 29 the picker arm 30 is rotated in guideway 3| to cause the picker head 32 .to pickup and carry a single potato from.,the hopper i0 and drop it into the potato cuttingnest or basket 33 held by bracket 34. This potato picker arm 30 and picker head 32 are of a conventional design and are well known in the potato. planting industry. Generally,the picker device operates by the blunted head 35 coming into contact with a potato as its back portion 35 follows guideway 3l,'forcing the potato onto point 36 while, at the same time, bracing the potato against backstop 37. As the arm 39 continues its forwardmovement, it brings the portion 35' against-f stopper 38, tripping the mechanism toloosen the clamped potato from point 36, allowing it to fall onto portion 19' of hopper Ill and slide into the potato basket 33. As illustrated, the hopper I0 is closed the opposite end 43 oifset to avoid interference with the. mechanical operation of the apparatus. This arm 4|, attached to wall 39, thus controls theconventional electric switch 44, to turn off the motor l8 which drives the conveyor feed l2 and grading screens l4, whenever the feeding of potatoes to the hopper Ill becomes too rapid and fills the hopper Hi to capacity causing the lowering of wall 39 against the normally restraining pressure of spring 45. It will be obvious that spring 45, having its ends braced against movablewall 39 on 'oneside and on the other side braced against the stationary abutment formed byhopper |D, norma1ly tends to resist compression holding the Walls 39 up and switch 44 closed until such time as excessive weight of the contents in. hopper It! will lower the walls 39 and openswitch 44 to temporarily shut off the conveyance of potatoes to hoppers In. One or more controls 39 may be used. I

I The mechanism for cutting a potato whichhas fallen from picker head 32 into potato basket 33 comprises a reciprocating plunger block 46, secured to rod 41. The rod 41 with, plunger or piston-like head 41 is held at its upper end in hollow cylinder 48 against spring means 48 with a suitable slot and pin non-rotatable guideway means ,41" whereby the rod 41 may reciprocate without rotationwithin the cylinder during a cutting operation. By means of yoke arrangement 49 on the end ofcylinder wall 48 the sylinder and its associated parts are coupled by pin 50 with a driving link of chain 5| and thereby reciprocated in an up and down or backward and forward like manner to complete a cutting action of the nature contemplated. A supporting end guide rod 52 servestosecure the rod 41, cylinder 48 and yoke 5|l'inalignment with guideways .53 and 54 the rod 52 being'of rectangular shape or having suitable guideways to prevent rotation in support 53. Further, the support 54 with its enlarged opening 55 serves as a bearing guideway for cylinder wall 48 in its forward or downward motion on yoke 49 as chain 5| is turned.

The bearing guideway 55, for the wall of cylinder48, also serves the purpose of acting as a support for rod 4'! and block 46 during a cutting operation.: The block 46 being designed to cooperate with circularknife blades, contained in basket 33, as hereinafterdescribed, contains a hollowed-out center portion 56, as shown by the dotted line effect and grooves 51. The portion 56 is adapted to cooperatively engage and forcibly position a potato in the basket 33 and the grooves 5! allow the block member 46 to pass into the basket during a seed cutting operation. The drive means turning chain 5| to raise and lower cylinder 48 and reciprocate the'plungers and its block 46 comprise a drive chain 58 driven from a suitable sprocket wheel on shaft 29. That is, turning of dual sprocket wheels 59 and 60 by drive chain Si moves chain 51 about its .coursevto" raise and loweri'the yoke arrangement .dawhich carries the cylinder 48 and its associated parts... In operation, when the yoke 49 has lowered the cylinder Jacarryin plunger block 46 into contact positionawith oi-potato held in basket 33,. the plate 6 lisinoper ative position, as hereinafter described-rand serves to hold basket 3? closed, thereby causing compression of spring 48' by the continued lowering movement of the yoke arrangement 4'3 and cylinder Associated with the holdingmeans 54 is a knife 62 operating from a common shaft 63, for performing a horizontalor longitudinal cutting action, in a manner as hereinafter described. Attached to'the block--46 is a safety device comprising an elongated pin :84 whichrid'eswi-th the block a downward motion through groove 65 in lo'werspout-portion lfl" of hopper l il. T-he'pur- DOSBOfthis safety device is to prevent ahorizom tal slicing. of a potato which falls into the basket (when it is of too small a size to be sliced crosswise; .That is, the safety device or pintd' extends below the lower edge of; block 48 to stop'knife blade 62 whenetheblock Adengages a small potatoin-basket 33. The drive shaft 21, as more clearly mustrated-in Fig. 1,. operates gear wheels fifi to'cause the rotation of .holding plate 151 and knife 62 from the common drive shaft 63 mounted on s. suitable obvious support. i

The Fig. 3 illustrates, on-hold-ingbracket" 3:4, .omrof-the larger potato nests orbaskets-ts adapted to cutting a large size potato and which comprises the cutting blades itl rigidly-secured to bracket member 34 and having their edges lying in-a' plane with or preferably just below the upper surface of blocks 68. The center block 68' is a continuation of one of the side block-s fib as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. In order that the blocks may be freely forced out of their normal holding position, they are fastened by hinge members-69 at pivot points it along the outside and bottom edges of support member 3 5 with the springs "H having surlicient tension to resist'the weight and opening tendency of the blocks when apota-to contained in the basket.

Contained within the central portion of the blocks are ball bearings-l2 which are freely rotatable in order by their movement, to allow the poi'tato to come to rest centered or positioned in the centralfiattened portion of the basket 33- when pressure from block 45- (Fig. 2) is applied. Furthenthe bearings by their free rolling action, and the shape of the basket permit the potato to position itself, under the pressure of the block 'lfir proportionately over the cutting edges of the knife blades El and thereby is obtained a uni fo'rmly'shaped cut seed potato. The construction "of the hinge members 69 and H! with retaining pins 68' and spring ll are of conventional design.

Fig. 4 is an illustration-0f the manner'in which the center block 68' is attached to one of the sidebloclrs 68 and is operable therewith during a' cutting operation. The bearing 12 is illustrated as positioned above the knife blade 6? beside the closed block 68, which block 68 is illustrated as egos 1,5120

by drlw' e-xshaft .21 (shown in Fig.1 .andFigQi' through conventional gearing $6 and turns the plate member 61 under blocks 68 and16-8-"to re; tain them in a closed position during the time a potato is being positioned by pressure of the block 46 '(Fig. 2) and also during thehorizont'al slicing "operation, if used. This plate 6| has a downturned lip GI at its face side to prevent a sharp edge being exposed to catch on the block members 68 (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) in theevent they are not in a tightly closed position. Supporting member 73, to which plate :BI is attached, isrigidly secured to collar or ring member M which, in turn, is bound by obvious screw or other suitable means to shaft .63.

Near the top end of the shaft 83 is securedknife blade :62, of suitable cutting uality,v ras tene'd to arm It .by suitable obvious" bolt means. which arm 15, in turn. is free torotate about shaft .63, when locking pin (.6 is -fo rced from its seat ll in shaft collar member 1-8; .The locking pin 16 is secured through the right anglescpiece I5 by a supporting hollow screw .member'tilil, through whichit also extends to permit-a sliding movement of the pin upon ,compressionnf. spring 86 wrapped about pin 16. between the stationary washer N and loose washer 82.. Shaftcollar member 18 is secured and supportedon-shaft 63 by a suitable obvious keyway and the collar members :83 and 84-. In'addition, there is provided on the support member-85 :a hat spring .86, which serves to engage the rear portion of. arm ad 'jacent' the angular end .15 F'mitspath of rota..- tion about shaft 83 and its fnnctionis .to-be' compressed or sprung under suflicientrtensionito cause a counter rotationnf :arm flicarrying blade 2, when-the knifeblade stopping meansztfl: this. 2).:is in .itsfpath, therebypreventing .contimield rotation of, the blade 62 and forcingthe knife holding arm 115 to moveback for a repositioning of pin means :1 6 inits seat 1-1 uponthegcontinuefi rotation of shaft 53. The end of pin :76 which fits into .s'eat =1! has .a slightly :curved surfaceto provide :means for the pin 1 6 to move ;in nndont of its :holding 'positionqand the. resistance of the pin holding spring 80 isisunicientrtonkecp the knife blades; fast whi utt n but capa le. of

being compressed when the knife iblade rstppping m ans 6.4. (Fig. 2) iobstru ts the kni ebled ra h,

-In =-Figa .6 there is disclosed tlzie plate member 6;! with carrying lip Bl in its relationship with knife blade 2 ,and arm 15 upon their having completed a holding andzcutting =Qpliration. The angular shape of theend of the plate member .6 opposite lip 6! is of lmliticular construction to allow a simultaneous .clearingof all .blochmembers afiil contained across the .end .or vside width of, the .nest orbasket 3,3. inasmuch assduring the timethat anyblock BB (Fig.3) is being supported and .heldin its normally closed ,position by plate .61, .the'force exerted .by the plunger 56,.(Fig. 2). against a potato resting thereagainst in basket 33 (rug. 2.) will not push the potato'in'to theknife bladesgsi (Fig. 3).

Rig. "7' .is' an illustrative example of certainof the varying sizes of potatoes as they will :be cut by the kiiives of the apparatus, and;vvhichj.cor responds to the grading scale and basket size. That is for the first hopper, adjacent reed belt [2 fo'flEi'g. l, the cutting basket33fis' smaller and will contain on knife with its associated swing+ ing block members to cut the potato in half ac cording to "its graded size as determined by the first screen 1-4 which may, for example, "be" or :a 2 /2 inch diameter size. On 'thenext screen]! for the hopper-I'D, the grading Si'Ze'i'S Slightly larger," for example,-three inches in diametersize', and the corresponding basket 33 has the knife blades positioned to out the'potato into-three sections of substantially equal sizeand shape.

. The next screen I4 is relatively larger, for example, 3 /2 inch diameter size, and permits a potato of larger size to pass therethrough and thence from hopper l intothe potato cutting basket or nest 33 (Fig. 2) wherein it is cut into quarter sizes substantially of block shape. vIn these cuts of theismaller potatoes, where the knife blade stopping means 64 (Fig. 2) will always descend to obstruct arm.15 (Fig. 2), theknife=62 (Fig. and Fig. 6) and its connected parts may be omitted. Further where small potatoesor other articles are to be cut, it may be desired that the plate itself be eliminated, as the plunger member 46 (Fig. 2) withits spring action serves to position the article on the bearings 12 used in receiving baskets 33 (Figs. 2, 3, and 4). Also it is to be understood that this plate or basket holdingmeans 6! (Figs. 2, 5, and 6) is preferredto hold the basket blocks 68 (Figs. 3 and 4) in a closed position during an article positioning movement of the apparatus and, in fact, is a necessary part when objects such as potatoes are of irregular contour and may require some force to adjust themselves on bearing members I2 (Figs. 2 and 3).

The next larger size, for example, where a screen of four inch diameter size is used, the potato larger and. ofttimes needs slicing through substantially its center portion. In this case the plunger member 46 (Fig. 2) has operated to position the potato in the nest and by reason of the potato-size prevents knife stopping member 64 from obstructing knife blade 62, thus allowing the blade to rotate on shaft 63 (Fig. 2 and Fig. 5) cutting the potato horizontally and substantially through its center length and'plate 6| (Fig. 2, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6) having cleared, allows plunger block 46 (Fig. 2) to force the sliced potato through blades 61, which operate to cut it into block-like pieces of substantially equivalent size and shape suitable for use in potato planting machinery.

As the potatoes pass over subsequent screen members l4 in a grading operation, the balance of the units operate in the same manner as described to cut from the'smallest to the largest potato a seed portion of the nature which may be used in mechanical planters; that is, of a substantially uniform size and shape.

In order to provide a better understanding of the apparatus and its working parts, a complete cycle ofoperation will be described by following the path of a potato from a screen member l4 to the take-oflf conveyor belt l3. Assuming that the motors are operating conveyor belts l2, l3, and 22 and grading screens i4, the hopper [6- will receive potatoes of a graded size. The picker head 32 will then make one revolution and the cylinder 48 will make one forward and one backward movement in timed relationship with the picker head so that, as illustrated, the picker head 32 is tripped at the time the cylinder 48 is at the peak of its backward motion. With the picker head 32 tripped, a potato will fall into nest or basket 33 as the cylinder '48 moves block 46 downward to rest on the potato and position it. I

During the cycle of the picker head 32 and the backward and forward motion of cylinder 48, the plate 6| will make two revolutions carrying knife blade 62 with it, when not obstructed or stopped in. timed relationv to the reciprocating action Of the cylinder 48 so that just before the block can apply pressure on the contents of the hasket, the leading edge of plate 6! passes under .the swinging basket bottom blocks 68, holding them in a closed position until knife blade 62 passes through the approximate center of the potato, if notstopped. by member 64, and thereafter-the plate clears the block members 68 so that block 46, which has meanwhile built up considerable pressure by compression of spring 48' on continued movement of cylinder 48, pushes the potato through stationary knives v6'1, offsetting the pres: sure of spring members H to open blocks 68, permitting the cut seed portion of the potatoto fall onconveyor belt 19 from whence they are carried to conveyor .belt I3 for removal and subsequent planting. During the return movement of the reciprocating plunger member 46 the blade 62 makes a complete revolution picking up the knife blade 62, in the event the holding arm 15 was obstructed by member 64 in its first turn. That is, the gear timing is on the ratio of 2-1-1 for the slicing and holding, cutting and picker operation.

It will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into substantially equal parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes one at a time in said basket, a closure for the bottom of said basket comprising a plurality of hiugedly mounted interfitting blocks, freely rotatable potato engaging means disposed in the upper surface of each block, resilient means for maintaining said blocks in closed position, lateral and longitudinally disposed cutting blades fixed in said basket between said blocks, a relatively narrow horizontally disposed rotatably mounted cutting knife having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means for rotating said knife, a vertical potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in timed relation to said feeding means for resiliently urging said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket for positioning said potato on said potato engaging means and for holding said potato in position during the horizontal cutting operation of said knife, means associated with said knife and driven in timed relation thereto for maintaining said blocks in closed position during the cutting operation of said knife and for releasing said blocks immediately after completion thereof, whereby said plunger will force the horizontally cut potatoes through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts of substantially equal size, said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon upward movement of said plunger.

2. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into a plurality of parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes one at a time in said basket, closure means for the bottom of said basket comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted blocks, freely rotatable potato engaging means disposed in the upper surface of bymember fl Ifhecycleoftheplate 6| is also 76 each block, resilient means for maintaining said a relatively narrow horizontally disposed rotatably mounted, cuttingknifeu having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means-for rotating saidknife, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in timed relationto said feeding means for resiliently urge ing said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket for positioning said potato on said" potato engaging means and holding said potato in position during the horizontaloperation of said knife, means associated with said knife and driven"intimedgrelation thereto for maintaining said blocksfin closed, position during the cutting operation of saidknife and for releasing said blocks immediately'after the completion thereof whereby said plunger will force the horizontally cut potatoes through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts, said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon upward movement of said plunger.

3. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into a plurality of parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes in said basket, closure means for the bottom of said basket comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted blocks, resilient means for maintaining said blocks in closed position, cutting blades fixed in said basket, a relatively narrow horizontally disposed rotatably mounted cutting knife having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means for rotating said knife, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, a common drive means for said feeding means and said plunger, resilient means connecting said drive means and said plunger whereby said plunger operates in timed relation to said feeding means and is resiliently urged downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket for holding said potato in position during a horizontal cutting operation of said knife, means mounted for rotation with said knife and engaging said blocks and for maintaining said blocks in closed position during the cutting operation of said knife and releasing said block immediately after completion thereof whereby said plunger will force the horizontally cut potato through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts, said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon upward movement of said plunger.

4. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into a plurality of parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes in said basket, closure means for the bottom of said basket, means for resiliently maintaining said closure means in closed position, a cutting blade fixed in said basket, a horizontally disposed cutting knife having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means for operating said knife, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in times relation to said feeding means for resiliently urging said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket, means for holding said potato in position during the horizontal cutting operation of said knife, means for maintaining said closure means in closed position during the cutting operation of said knife and for permitting said closure means to open immediately after the animation 'tl'iereb 'f whereby Said plunger will force the. horizontally out potatoes through said aplurality of vertie dyer potato parts, saidcl'osiire means H dby said resilient m s we; in a mov el .f. i 1? sa plunger 5; machine for cutting seed potatoes into 1a plurality, of part comprising a potato receiving basket, ffeedirig 'inean's depositing potatoes one at'a time in said b'a'sket,',jclosure"means for the bottom of saidbasketfc'omprisinga plurality of hingedlymount'edinterfi able potato engaging me surface-for"each lifloc b fsketfsaid blades pr'oducin cs1 fcuts resulting" knife having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means for rotating said knife, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in timed relation to said feeding means for resiliently urging said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket for positioning said potato on said potato engaging means, means on said plunger for engaging and interrupting the rotary movement of said knife when said plunger initially engages the potato below the upper surface of said basket whereby further downward movement of said plunger will force said potatoes through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts, said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon upward movement of said plunger.

6. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into a plurality of parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes in said basket, closure means for the bottom of said basket comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted blocks, resilient means for maintaining said,

blocks in closed position, cutting blades fixed in said basket, a horizontally disposed cutting knife having a path of movement adjacent and across the upper surface of said basket, means for operating said knife, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in timed relation to said feeding means for resiliently urging said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket, means on said plunger for engaging and interrupting the movement of said knife when said plunger initially engages a potato below the upper surface of said basket whereby further downward movement of said plunger will force the potato through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts, said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon forward movement f said plunger.

7. A machine for cutting seed potatoes into a plurality of parts comprising a potato receiving basket, feeding means for depositing potatoes in said basket, closure means for the bottom of said basket comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted blocks, freely rotatable potato engaging means disposed in the upper surface of each block, resilient means for maintaining said blocks in closed position, cutting blades fixed in said basket, a vertically movable potato engaging plunger disposed above said basket, means operating in timed relation to said feeding means for resiliently urging said plunger downwardly into engagement with a potato disposed in said basket for positioning said potato on said potato engaging means and upon further downward movement of said plunger, for forcing the potato through said basket, said blades producing a plurality of vertical cuts resulting in a plurality of potato parts said blocks being closed by said resilient means upon upward movement'of said plunger.

8. A machine as defined in claim 2 in which the freely rotatable potato engaging means comprises a ball rotatably disposed in a recess in each block with a portion of the ball projecting above the surface of each block.

9. A machine as defined in claim 5 in which means is provided for interrupting the drive of said horizontal knife upon engagement therewith by the means on said plunger and additional means for returning said knife to its initial position whereby the driving connection is reestablished.

GLENN H. MANUEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in *the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 573,551 Sternberg Dec. 22, 1896 1,058,821 Walker et al. Apr. 15, 1913 1,337,968 Schroeder Apr. 20, 1920 1,347,058 Schroeder July 20, 1920 15 1,438,922 Knutson -1 Dec. 12, 1922 1,794,833 Castellueci Mar. 3, 1931 1,961,009 Nachtigal -May 29, 1934 2,017,559

Wolfinger Oct. 15, 1935 

